CONFI and Super-CONFI
Confi and Super-Confi were created by George Rosenkrantz, and
are designed to facilitate slam bidding opposite a balanced
hand.
'Con' stands for controls and 'fi' stands for fit. The general
idea is that one bid asks opener for number of controls, and
if responder gets an encouraging answer, the partnership
looks for fits. The convention is used when responder's hand
is balanced (4432/4333) or quasi-balanced (5332, 5422). Confi
is used when a small slam is in the picture; Super-confi when
a grand slam is possible. Confi stops if the partnership as
9 or fewer controls; Super-confi if the partnership has 11 or
fewer controls,
After showing the controls, both players show suits up the line (at least
Qxxx) until a playable fit is located. After the fit is found, opener bids up the line to show
the number of controls. An ace equals 2 controls, while a king equals one.
For example, assuming a 15-17 1nt opener with 2s as confi,
opener would bid 2nt with 3 or fewer controls, 3c=4, 3d=5,
3h=6, 3s=7, 3nt=8 (some would collapse these responses
and show 5or fewer, then 6, etc). If opener's controls
plus responder's controls total 10 or more, then they
start bidding suits up the line.
Similarly, if 4d is superconfi, then after 1nt-4d-?, opener
would bid 4h=3 or fewer, 4s=4, 4nt=5, 5c=6, 5d=7, 5h=8. If
the total number of controls is not 12, responder signs off
at 6nt. Any other bid initiates a search for grand slam
strain and promises all 12 controls.
I received from Henry Sun